Thomas Harper Bio
Thomas Westley Harper is an American professional football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 5, 2000, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Harper began his football journey later than most after switching from basketball to the gridiron as a high school sophomore. After playing college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and has since spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Detroit Lions.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and listed at 186 pounds, Harper has carved out a professional path through perseverance and special-teams play. He is recognized for his versatility in the secondary and his background as a high school wide receiver and defensive back.
Early Life and Background
Thomas Westley Harper was born on November 5, 2000, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to his parents Kevin and Alacia. He grew up in the same Knoxville community and developed his athletic foundation on the basketball court before deciding to give football a try during his sophomore year at Karns High School.
That decision changed the direction of his athletic career. At Karns High School, Harper quickly emerged as a standout wide receiver and defensive back, becoming the first player in school history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. He was named all-district, all-region, and team MVP during his career with the Karns Beavers.
As a junior, Harper totaled 1,086 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, earning all-state recognition. He finished his senior season with 1,279 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, while also adding 155 tackles, 16 passes defended, and three interceptions on defense. Rated as a two-star recruit, Harper committed to Oklahoma State, the only Power Five program to extend him an offer, a choice that allowed him to join his brother Devin, a linebacker.
Path to American Football
Harper’s path to American Football was unconventional compared with most NFL players. He did not begin organized football until his sophomore year of high school and was a late convert from basketball. Despite that, his production at Karns High School drew the attention of college scouts, and he signed with the Oklahoma State Cowboys of the Big 12 Conference.
At Oklahoma State, Harper played as a true freshman in 2019, appearing in 12 games mostly on special teams and recording 13 tackles. The following season, he appeared in all 11 games, making one start, and posted 31 tackles while earning second-team Academic All-Big 12 Conference honors. In 2021, he played 12 games and totaled 20 tackles with 1.5 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) before winning a starting role in 2022, when he recorded 30 tackles and 1.5 TFLs in seven appearances.
Seeking a change for his final season of eligibility, Harper transferred to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2023. With Notre Dame, he appeared in 11 games and posted 39 tackles, six TFLs, three passes defended, and two sacks. He opted out of Notre Dame’s 2023 Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State due to injury, ending his college career with a versatile resume across two Power Five programs.
Thomas Harper Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Thomas Westley Harper’s early career unfolded across two major college football programs. At Oklahoma State from 2019 through 2022, he developed into a reliable contributor on special teams and a part-time starter at defensive back. His most productive college stretch came in 2023, when he transferred to Notre Dame and posted 39 tackles, six TFLs, three passes defended, and two sacks in 11 games.
That senior season gave NFL scouts a clearer view of his range as a defensive back. Although he was unable to play in Notre Dame’s Sun Bowl win over Oregon State, his two-sack, six-TFL campaign helped position him as an undrafted free-agent signing after the 2024 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Chargers (2024)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Thomas Westley Harper signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent. He joined a deep defensive backfield and worked to earn a role in the secondary and on special teams during training camp and the preseason.
Harper was waived by the Chargers on August 27, 2024, as part of the team’s final roster cuts, ending a brief preseason stint with the club.
Las Vegas Raiders (2024–2025)
One day after being released by the Chargers, Harper was claimed off waivers by the Las Vegas Raiders on August 28, 2024. He spent the 2024 regular season with the Raiders organization, continuing to develop as a safety and special-teams contributor.
Harper remained with the Raiders through the 2025 offseason before being waived on August 28, 2025, once again as part of final roster trimming. His year with the Raiders gave him a full NFL cycle of practice and game preparation to build on.
Detroit Lions Era (2025–Present)
On August 29, 2025, Thomas Westley Harper was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions, adding depth at safety for the NFC North franchise. The move gave him an opportunity to compete for a role in Detroit’s defensive backfield and on special teams.
The Detroit Lions claimed Harper one day after he was waived by the Las Vegas Raiders. He joined a Lions defense that has invested in versatile secondary players capable of contributing on multiple coverage units.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thomas Westley Harper’s strengths stem from his unusual athletic background. After playing basketball in his youth and developing as a wide receiver at Karns High School, he entered the NFL with strong ball skills and the kind of coverage instincts that come from playing offense. At 5 feet 10 inches and 186 pounds, he relies on quickness, route recognition, and special-teams toughness rather than size, making him a fit for nickel and safety packages that emphasize speed and football intelligence.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Thomas Westley Harper’s career came at Karns High School, where he became the first player in program history to record over 1,000 receiving yards. In the NFL, his senior-season two-sack performance at Notre Dame in 2023 stands out as a statistical highlight, and he has now been part of three NFL transactions within a calendar year, signing with the Chargers in 2024, joining the Raiders the same year, and landing with the Detroit Lions in 2025.
Thomas Harper Career Wins
Thomas Westley Harper is at the early stage of his NFL career and is still establishing himself as a defensive contributor at the professional level. His career highlights to date are rooted in college production and roster movement rather than championship wins. He contributed to Notre Dame’s 2023 Sun Bowl victory as a member of the team, though he did not play in the game due to injury.
Notre Dame Highlights
During his single season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2023, Thomas Westley Harper appeared in 11 games and posted 39 tackles, six TFLs, three passes defended, and two sacks. He was a versatile piece of the Irish defense before opting out of the Sun Bowl due to injury. His statistical production that season represented his most complete college campaign.
Other Wins & Performances
At Karns High School, Thomas Westley Harper finished his career with 1,279 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior, along with 155 tackles, 16 passes defended, and three interceptions. At Oklahoma State, he earned second-team Academic All-Big 12 Conference honors in 2020. With the Detroit Lions in 2025, he is looking to translate those college achievements into sustained NFL playing time.
Thomas Harper Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Thomas Westley Harper was born to his parents Kevin and Alacia and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is the younger brother of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Harper, who also played college football at Oklahoma State. The two brothers overlapped with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, an arrangement that influenced Thomas’s commitment to the program as a two-star recruit.
Personal Life
Thomas Westley Harper grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and comes from a close athletic family. His father Kevin and mother Alacia supported his late switch from basketball to football during his sophomore year at Karns High School. His older brother, Devin Harper, plays linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season has been a season of transition for Thomas Westley Harper. After spending the 2024 campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders, he was waived on August 28, 2025, during final roster cuts, and claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions the following day. That quick turnaround gave him an opportunity to compete for a special-teams and reserve safety role in Detroit.
With the Detroit Lions, Harper joined a defense that has prioritized depth in the secondary and on coverage units. His path to consistent defensive snaps likely runs through special-teams play early in the 2025 season, where his college experience as a tackler on multiple units can translate to the NFL level.
Heading into the rest of the 2025 schedule, Thomas Westley Harper is focused on establishing himself as a steady contributor in Detroit. Continued development as a safety and on special teams will be key to carving out a long-term role with the Lions beyond his first year in Honolulu blue and silver.